FIVE YEARS LATER.
Inside Lynn's Department Store, in the VIP lounge of a high-end boutique, a client surveyed the luxurious clothing brands displayed on the mannequins. Her gaze lingered on the limited-edition accessories gleaming behind glass cases—designer bags, heels, and more.
"Erica, it's been a week since you last came to check out the latest designs, and now here you are!" said a stylish Lucy, who seemed to be Erica's friend. "Your wardrobe must be screaming sophistication and luxury."
"That's because I'm the heiress of the powerful Sylvain family. As the heiress, I must always look sophisticated, not outdated," Erica replied, recalling how her face had once graced magazine covers nationwide following Madelyn's death.
"True," Lucy nodded. "But I remember you only shop for special events. What's the occasion this time?" Her voice dripped with curiosity.
Erica stood before a tall mirror, sizing up a velvet Louis Vuitton dress, a warm smile spreading across her lips. "There is an exclusive event tonight, and I must look stunning by his side, as his future wife-to-be."
A smile tugged at her lips as she imagined herself looking radiant beside Rafael at the event, the media capturing every moment.
Lucy forced a smile, still amazed that Erica had ended up as Rafael's partner.
In New York City, Rafael and Erica had become a renowned power couple, their relationship splashed across magazine covers ever since the head of the Valleni family publicly acknowledged their engagement four months ago. Lucy had always doubted that Rafael would settle for anyone less than the beautiful and kind Madelyn.
"I pray you have a beautiful and happy home with him," Lucy muttered under her breath, a hint of jealousy in her tone.
After a lingering glance at the dress, Erica handed it to Lucy and stepped away from the mirror. She strolled over to the accessory display, the store associate following closely behind.
"That's for sure—as long as my biggest obstacle can't return to my life," Erica said, referring to Madelyn. She couldn't stand that woman's presence in the Sylvain family. Now, with Madelyn gone, there was no one left to fight for her mother's inheritance.
Margaux had vanished without a trace, and everyone had forgotten her. Gabriel, the worst of his siblings.
Lucy sighed pitifully. "Rafael must have suffered a lot. People called him impotent, when it was his deceased ex-wife who was barren," she remarked while helping Erica fasten a silver necklace around her neck.
A small smile curled on Erica's lips once again, relishing the slander against Madelyn's name.
It didn't surprise her that Lucy was aware. Madelyn's childlessness had been a national topic five years ago, especially after a dark rumour.
"Rafael won't stay childless for long. I'm fertile enough to conceive his heir once I become his legal wife," Erica declared confidently, her finger twitching with emphasis.
"I can't wait to see your beautiful kids," Lucy added playfully.
The two continued their lively conversation.
Meanwhile, behind a silk curtain in a nearby dressing room, a slender, sophisticated figure in an elegant tube-draped slit gown suppressed a dry snort at the scandalous conversation she had just overheard.
Five years had passed, yet people still dared to smear her name, hurling cruel judgments as if they were discussing some thrilling tale.
Head held high and shoulders squared, she gazed at her reflection not with doubt but with pride, for the cold, powerful woman staring back was the product of every struggle she had conquered to stand here today.
"Why do people always run their mouths just to ruin someone's reputation? Infertile?" the alluring woman muttered, her voice calm but tinged with indignation.
Outside the dressing room, her bodyguard Calvin, noting her distaste, inquired, "If their presence is disturbing you, I can send them away."
Adjusting the luxury pearl necklace around her neck, she recognized those venomous voices all too well. "Never mind," she said, raising a hand in dismissal. "I'll handle this myself."
She reached into her silver glittery oval purse, retrieved her phone, and sent a brief message to the manager.
Taking a deep breath, she admired her poised appearance in the mirror—perfectly suited for the upcoming event in an hour. With one final glance, she turned and stepped out of the dressing room.
Calvin followed closely, ever alert.
As she approached, the women, still engrossed in conversation, fell silent, their laughter abruptly dying. The alluring woman moved with grace, her cold, calculating gaze fixed on them.
She halted three meters away, arms crossed over her chest.
Erica and Lucy's conversation faded when a soothing voice cut through the air: "You two seem to be having fun. What's the update you were talking about?"
The women swiftly turned, eyes wide with shock, landing on the poised figure before them—elegant, composed, and exuding a chilling aura.
As the question settled, Erica's heart skipped a beat, as if it wanted to leap out of her chest. "Shit!" she whispered, trembling as she spun to face the source of the voice.
Panting slightly, Erica instinctively stepped back to maintain some distance. Her brows furrowed in confusion, trying to place the voice that sound familiar yet unfamiliar.
Could it be she is…? Was her hearing playing tricks?
Maintaining her composure, Erica pushed away the unsettling thoughts swirling in her mind. "And how is that your business?" she retorted, though a hint of fear slipped into her voice.
The mysterious woman swept a cold gaze over them, noting the fear and confusion on their faces. She knew Erica would be puzzled, especially with her features concealed beneath heavy makeup.
She had to maintain her altered speech pattern for now. It wasn't yet time to reveal the identity she had so carefully strategized.
"The conversation about Madelyn and Rafael was thrilling. I became curious," she said, tilting her head slightly, mischief sparkling in her eyes. "I'm also curious if Rafael's pregnant mistress had birth his child. They must be a happy family now, am I right?"
"What mistress?"
"Did Rafael have a mistress?"
"That's unbelievable! He said during that interview that he was never unfaithful!"
"Who could it be?" The onlookers murmured.
The murmurs from nearby customers grew, some already raising their phones to record.
"Who could she be? I'm curious about that too. I wonder if his fiancée knows," the woman said, her cold eyes locking with Erica's increasingly uneasy gaze.
An awkward smile flickered across Erica's lips as she darted her gaze around the room. She noticed the judging expressions of onlookers faces twisted in anticipation, as if waiting for her secrets to be exposed. The atmosphere turned suffocating.
She had no idea how much this mysterious woman knew about Rafael's past, but she refused to let a single word destroy the carefully crafted reputation she had built.
"I don't know what nonsense you're talking about," Erica denied, forcing confidence into her voice. "Rafael would never cheat. His ex-wife was the unfaithful one."
A deliberate, eerie smile graced the woman's lips while her fingers curled outrageously at the memory of those vicious articles. They had painted her as a cheating wife who took her own life out of shame.
She had never anticipated such a narrative. Deep down, she believed Rafael had spread those lies to cover up what he had done to her.
"So unfortunate," she murmured, keeping her tone calm and measured.
"Why are you so interested in Rafael's private life?" Lucy snapped. "Mind your own business and stop ruining our mood."
"You're right. I shouldn't ruin the atmosphere," the woman replied with irony, stepping closer to Erica. "After all, this is a place for shopping, not a café for spreading rumours. Be gone."
"What?" Erica gasped, eyes narrowing. "Who do you think you are, ordering me around? Don't get a big head just because you're some VIP. I'm one too,"
The woman's expression remained unfazed, her cold gaze locked on Erica. This halfsister hadn't changed one bit over the years. It would be entertaining to watch her arrogance and everything she built come crashing down.
Just then, the manager arrived with two security guards, slightly out of breath.
"You called for me, ma'am?" he said with a respectful bow.
The woman shifted her cold gaze from Erica, ignoring her indignant outburst. "Throw these bitches out," she commanded the manager.
"Yes, ma'am," he replied, bowing again as she turned away, no longer willing to tolerate the sight of the woman who reminded her of the hell they'd put her through.
She had achieved what she wanted. The public would now begin to question the glossy narrative surrounding her supposed death and Rafael's spotless image. She was determined to expose the truth about their betrayal.
"Who are you calling bitches? Do you know who I am?" Erica snarled, surprised at this woman's belittlement. "I'll teach you a lesson for being insolent!"
Erica lunged forward with impulsive intentions, but Calvin stepped in between them with fierce protectiveness. She retreated, cowed by his cold, deadly stare that could have knocked her down if she'd taken another step forward.
The mysterious woman acted as though Erica's fury was nothing more than a drop of water compared to the storm of retribution she carried within.
With Calvin at her side, she walked out of the VIP lounge.